Tools & Resources

World Digestive Health Day 2009 provided various tools and resources for use across the globe in support of the 2009 campaign.

Questions Patients Ask about Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

A helpful overview of questions patients might ask about IBS. Sponsored by Danone.

General

How can my doctor be sure I have IBS? Shouldn't they run more tests?

If the doctor makes a diagnosis based on a good history and the application of validated criteria, it is very unlikely that the symptoms are caused by any other condition. Additional tests or examinations will not usually be necessary if your doctor follows recent guidelines developed by the World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO).

If it’s not IBS, what else could it be?

A number of other conditions may have symptoms such as abdominal pain or discomfort, or a change in the frequency and appearance of your stool that are similar to IBS. However, your doctor will base his/her clinical assessment on a number of factors, including your medical history,
age, gender and where you live.

Is it a common disease in the world?

Yes, IBS is surprisingly common throughout the world and appears to be becoming more common. In developed countries it may affect up to 1 in 5 adults - an average figure based on a number of surveys is approximately 1 in 10 people (11%).

Is diet a causative factor?

Diet is not the cause of IBS but there is evidence that dietary factors may exacerbate symptoms. The prevalence of IBS has increased in countries which have introduced Western style diets and these diets often contain more refined foods and additives. The impact of diet and other factors on the bacterial gut flora may play a role in the increased incidence of IBS.

Is there a relationship between IBS and food allergies?

No, there is no evidence suggesting food allergies cause IBS. However, people often believe that food allergies exacerbate their IBS symptoms - food allergy testing or exclusion diets have not been shown to affect IBS symptoms so their routine use is not recommended. It is more important to adopt a healthy balanced diet, as advocated by the WGO.

What is irritable bowel syndrome?

IBS is one of the most common digestive disorders, affecting a significant proportion of the world’s population. Typically, people with IBS experience symptoms which include abdominal pain, bloating, constipation and/or diarrhea. The symptoms are often chronic (long-term) and recurrent (episodic). IBS is a condition that is taken seriously because it has a significant impact of people’s ability to work productively or lead normal lives.

What are the risk factors for IBS?

There is a strong association between intestinal infection and IBS and the risk substantially increases (6-fold) after an acute gastrointestinal infection - this is one reason why probiotics are being investigated for managing IBS symptoms. Women have a 2-3 fold higher prevalence of IBS than men and recurrent abdominal pain as a child is a risk factor for IBS as an adult. A Western style diet may also be a risk factor as there is an increased prevalence of IBS in countries that adopt Western cuisine. Stress is also a risk factor for IBS.

Will IBS shorten my life?

No, patients with IBS have a normal life expectancy, although most individuals experience an impact of IBS on their daily lives as well as on their attitudes, fears and beliefs. However, your doctor can help you manage the condition.

Will my IBS worsen as I get older?

IBS tends to be less common in older people and there is evidence that people with IBS under the age of 50 years have a lower quality of life compared with those over the age of 50 years. This has been attributed to the older age group having a more established social network. The better quality of life could also be due to less severe disease and a greater capacity to cope with IBS.

Prognosis

Am I at risk for colorectal cancer?

No, IBS does not increase the risk for colon cancer. IBS has not been shown to be associated with the longer term development of any serious disease and there is no evidence that it is associated with higher mortality. Although many people with IBS are concerned that the condition will develop into a more worrisome disease, such as cancer, there is absolutely no evidence that this is the case.

Can IBS be cured?

There is no single treatment that will cure people with IBS but there are therapies that can improve IBS symptoms. Approximately 25-30% of people with IBS will get better over time and a number of people are symptom free within 2 years.

What is the prognosis, is there a chance it just goes away?

IBS is often a long-term condition, but in a proportion of people there is a complete disappearance of symptoms during a 2 year follow up period. Long-term studies of IBS patients showed that in over two-thirds of patients IBS substantially improved after 5 years. However, there are a number of factors including stress and dietary factors that can contribute to a return of the symptoms. New approaches to managing IBS may mean that people will experience less impact of the condition in the future.

Will IBS turn into colitis?

No, the long-term outcome of patients with IBS is very good. Most patients will respond to appropriate therapies and many new therapies are being developed which could further improve the lives of patients with IBS.

Symptoms

Does IBS pain move and change?

Abdominal pain is a common symptom of IBS with 86% of patients reporting pain and 46% defining their pain as severe. IBS pain has been shown to commonly move and change and can be reduced by dietary changes and reduction in stress. The use of drugs may be beneficial in the short-term to reduce intense pain.

What are the alarm symptoms that may point to an ‘organic’ cause?

The main symptoms that point to an ‘organic’ cause include; unintentional weight loss, bleeding in the stool, persistent diarrhea, anemia and vomiting. Patients with any of these symptoms should be investigated further to eliminate organic causes.

Are there medications that treat IBS?

There are several treatments available for IBS. However, as the causes of IBS are multifactorial the treatment approach is individualized to meet the specific needs of the patient. Therapy depends on the intensity of symptoms and the degree of other comorbid conditions.

Can other types of therapy help with IBS?

In some cases, psychotherapy can help people with IBS. Two of the most common factors that exacerbate IBS or cause a relapse are anxiety and depression and obtaining counseling or psychotherapy has been shown to have a long-lasting benefit in IBS. There is a connection between the brain and the gut that is thought to contribute to the symptoms of IBS.

What foods should I avoid so my IBS won’t worsen?

This varies so much from person to person that it is impossible to make general rules but attention should be paid to identifying those foods that upset a given individual. There are several foods that have been implicated in IBS including high intake of sugary foods, lactose intolerance and low fiber diets but clinical trials have often been inconclusive. The WGO provides advice on a balanced healthy diet that may help control the symptoms of IBS.

You can also download a PDF version of the Questions and Answers here:

10 Recommendations for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

It is now recognized that irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a truly global problem reportedly affecting millions of individuals (ca. 1 in 10) worldwide and exerting a significant influence on the quality of life both for the many reported and unreported (ca. 5 in 10) cases. Yet, despite volumes of research highlighting the prevalence and impact of IBS worldwide, IBS remains poorly understood by the medical community and the general public alike.

WGO recognises therefore, that there exists a very significant "knowledge gap" with regard to all aspects of IBS and there is a real unmet need to bring the very latest information on IBS to medical practitioners, other health care workers and the general public. For this reason, WGO, in partnership with industry sponsors, focuses the attention of the global gastroenterology community on May 29, 2009 on IBS.

Avoid IBS and maintain a healthily functioning digestive system by following these 10 recommendations:

Increase fluid intake

Consume a diet that includes fermented dairy products with proven probiotic properties

Test for diagnosing IBS

Edu Lessons

Monthly Research Review

WGO is pleased to announce a new WDHD tool to support IBS awareness: The Monthly Research Review. Issued once a month until the end of the year, The Monthly Research Review will be featured in the WGO E-Newsletter as well as here on the and website. In each issue a global IBS expert will recommend and highlight a “gold standard” article on IBS with a direct link to the original source.View Monthly Research Review

IBS Webcast For the General Public

WGO announces its release of an IBS webcast! The program, which stemmed from the WDHD 2012 theme, targets those common symptoms most associated with IBS and will focus, in particular, on an approach to educate the general public on issues related to this condition.Read More and View the IBS Webcast